The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-07-29
"THE FORGOTTEN CAUSE OF
POVERTY"

Inc Rev. Howtrt crosby, DID,, in
q paper with this title, which has
prominent place In the current mum.
Der Of the Forum, airs an amount OF
ignorance as 10 the condition OF the
working classes aud the causes in.
ducing the increased poverty In this
country that 10 astonishing, especial.
ly In view Of his boosted expert.
ences with the poor. He s.trib
utes the increased aud increasing
poverty to improvidence and In
temperance aud says not q word
about the enforced idleness when the
shops shut down, about sickness or
about accidents. DR.. Crosby writes in
. fine library, with much Of the or.
rogance OF the "leadipg philanthropy
Isl" and from the fanstical tripod OF the
Temperance editor, He rails at Henry
George and DR.. McGlynp, bat he does
not adduce single fact or experience
10 prove that he knows q hundredth
part "a much about poverty, Its causes
and consequences as either OF thee
WORTHLESS. That be can know as much
a. DIR. McGlynn is, Of course, out oil
the qusJiion. For more than fifteen
years that gentleman was tho priest OF
assistant priest Of one OF the lareest
parishes In New York, parish ex.
tending "scross town" into the avenue
A and b region, where destituliop,
want and woe may be confronted
10 thor extremities. DR.. McGlynn,
ss every other honst man who is moi
affected by wealth, had there found
that without the ex,ravsgant bonnet
and without the intemperance al
which Crosby roars az II II was the
rule and not the exception, the wage,
Of honestly applied and faithful labor
with even the most skilled mschsnict
10 not more than sufficient, II every
day is paid Tor, TO bridge him with
bis family from one years end TO an
other. There are thousands Of intel
lIgent mechanics In every part OF tn,
United States who could prove to DR.
Crosby, II II was worth while, that {
clip OF q week by sickness, II the work
man has no society 10 depend upon
makes q gap In bis welfare and keep
him In debt perhaps until the end o
the year. The figures DR.. Crosb!
makes are ianciiul. misleading sn'
libelous Of the laboring and working
elassea The average wages Of thos'
classes In the United States II
view Of the high prices tina
are made necessary by sys
tenn Of open handed robbery b.
which Gov. Foraker. Of Ohio, for In
stance has grown rioh-the averag
wages In consequence Of pro.e ,tiol
Just about carries the average, tn
prudent worklngman, over from Jan
uary 10 December. II he and his fam
lily maintain their health and are no
subj sct 10 ievers aid other disease
consequent upon the filth Of ten,
menis, the rents from which enable
the members Of Croeby's church TO Q
to Eurepe or splurge al the seaside wit
Hne turnouts and tigers" Dr. Orosb
has never been an humble follower
Christ He has never known III
pinching poverty that Christ sufiere
when he had nowhere 70 lay his heaC
Hec,unot, therefore, sympsthiEs wit
tho poor or know anything Of Ia
road along which Starvation, woe an
death lark before such pinshing pc,
erty has been reached. His belly hI
always been well illed, bis blood b,
Away been tempered with a lit
wine for the siomach's sake, aud h
has steadily kept before himself an
bis hearers the riches Of ChTlst
pron'se aud dwell. upon the jasp,
gates and the gold.pavsd stree
OF the New Jerusalem. His Chri
always appears In the rio
oolou Of Rsubena, the body VIZ
clothed and the whole aspect one
gentleness and peace in plenty. Il
has avoided the Garden Of Get
semene. the insult, betrayal, ason
and bloody sweat These are paint,
reminders Of this man Of the peopl
who saw In his day as Crosby fails
soc In oun, that II 10 the sslfishne
and greed Of wealth, the uniairne